Denmark has taken over the European Union’s rotating presidency and pledged to support Ukraine's bid to join the bloc while warning it may seek to nix Hungary’s EU voting rights if it continues to veto the vote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Aarhus for talks with Danish and EU leaders on July 3, calling for the urgent deepening of Ukraine’s integration with European defence integration amid growing uncertainty over future US military assistance. The same week, the Trump administration announced it was halting deliveries of new weapons to Ukraine. In response, European leaders have called for greater military self-reliance and coordinated support for Kyiv.

"Now, when there are doubts about continued US support for Europe, it's even more important to strengthen our cooperation and coordination through the EU, Nato and also in our direct relations," Zelenskiy said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the US shift sent "a clear message to step up our own support, ramping up our European defence capacities, not only at the level of the European Union, but at the continental level."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who will lead the EU Council through the end of the year, reaffirmed her government's commitment to Kyiv’s European path. "Ukraine should be in the EU. This benefits both Denmark and Europe. During Denmark's presidency, we will do everything possible to assist Ukraine on its EU membership journey," she said.

Frederiksen also called for stronger sanctions on Russia and expanded military assistance to Ukraine. Denmark wants to align EU foreign policy more closely with Nato strategy. It has also been a key Ukrainian ally, helping Kyiv to expand its domestic defence industry through joint ventures in the so-called Danish model.

Production of Ukrainian weapons to start in Denmark this fall. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that Ukrainian defense production could commence in his country this fall. Denmark will provide individual Ukrainian defense enterprises with "the opportunity to start production."

Denmark is simultaneously taking a harder line within the bloc against member states seen as undermining EU principles. European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said Copenhagen is considering invoking Article 7 of the EU treaty against Hungary for “violating EU laws.” The same policy was suggested by EU foreign policy chief and former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in her “Plan B” to strip Hungary of its voting rights in the European parliament that allows Budapest to block the start of negotiations for Ukraine’s eventual accession to the EU.

Bjerre added that the EU should also consider withholding funds from countries failing to meet legal and democratic obligations – an informal enforcement mechanism that has already been used against transgressions by Hungary and Poland.

She explicitly criticised Budapest for blocking Ukraine’s EU candidacy and signalled that Denmark “is prepared to consider all political and practical options for advancing our goals” during its presidency.